About Marina Bay Sands
Integrated Resort
Marina Bay Sands (MBS) is the latest Integrated Resort (IR) in Singapore. Earlier in 2010, the first huge IR Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) was already opened for public. An Integrated Resort is a Singaporean name for a casino-based vacation resort. Building the IR was opposed for a long time, but the government hopes both IR’s are to boost Singapore’s tourism industry which has been facing intense competition from other destinations around the region, particularly from nearby Macao and Genting (Place nearby Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia; especially popular with Singaporean tourists). In addition to the casinos, the IR will have other amenities including a hotel, multiple restaurants, shopping and convention centers, exhibition facilities, a theater, museum and theme park.
Casino
It is said that the word casino is deliberately avoided in Singapore to attract less attention to gambling within the local community. This was also to satisfy opposing groups, such as those belonging to the Muslim and Christian communities as well as social workers, who all openly expressed their disapproval to the casinos. Concerns were raised about the negative social impact of casino gambling, citing worries that the casinos could encourage more gambling and increase the risk of compulsive gambling. Activist groups argued that a casino could also lead to undesirable activities often associated with gambling, including money laundering, loan sharks or even organized crime.
Nonetheless, Singapore now has two big casinos for every type of player. It is said that RWS caters more to tourists and locals that look for a nice night out. MBS on the other hand caters more to businesspersons, convention visitors and high rollers. Therefore, the minimum stakes also higher at MBS.
The MBS casino has almost 500 table games and 1,600 slot machines spread over more than 15,000 square meters. Available table games are; Baccarat, Blackjack, Roulette, Sic Bo, Singapore Stud Poker and the Money Wheel. Unfortunately, there is no real poker to be played at Marina Bay Sands Casino, apart from Singapore Stud Poker. The dress code at the casino is – of course – smart casual. People wearing flip flops, slippers, casual short pants and sleeveless shirts are not allowed in the casino. The casino was opened on April 27, 2010 and some 4,000 people came before the auspicious 3.18pm opening to be among the first to enter the casino and witness the opening ceremony. During the first 24 hours after opening, roughly 36,000 people paid a visit to MBS.
Sands SkyPark
One of the biggest and probably the most unique attraction of the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort is the fabulous sky park (sky roof) on top of the complex. The three towers are joined together at the top by the biggest sky park in the world (12,400 square meters) at a height of almost 200 meters. There is an enormous infinity pool within the sky park, form where you can enjoy amazing panoramic views over Singapore (skyline).
Shopping
The Shoppes is part of Marina Bay Sands, the shopping mall is one of the latest additions in Singapore. There are several hundreds of shops in the mall, famous international brands (before opening nonexistent in Singapore) are Anne Fountaine, Henry Cotton’s, Paul & Shark, Stefano Ricci, Wolford, Marisfrolg, Moiselle and Rabeanco. A popular attraction within The Shoppes is the Sampan ride. For S$10 you can enjoy a nice boat ride down the canals within the mall (S$6 for kids). Opening hours are Sunday to Thursday 10.00 to 23.00 (Friday & Saturday 10.00 to 24.00).
Restaurants
Already, there is a lot of buzz about the dining scene that MBS will introduce to Singapore, with big-name celebrity chefs opening their first Singaporean (and for more than a few, their first Asian) outlets on the premises. These include Daniel Boulud (New York), Guy Savoy (Paris), Mario Batali (New York), Santi Santamaria (Barcelona), Wolfgang Puck (Los Angeles), Tetsuya Wakuda (Sydney) and favorite local culinary Justin Quek will be returning to helm a new restaurant on the Skypark.
Hotel
Marina Bay Sands hotel is a very luxurious five star hotel. The three 55 story towers of the hotel complex represent a couple of card decks. The hotel has 2,560 rooms in total, with 18 different types. The regular rooms – Atrium Rooms – go from S$ 439 (starting prices). From floor 22 and higher, you will find many special themed rooms like Orchard Suites, Marina Suites, Bay Suites, Sands Suites, Singapura Suites, Istana Suites, Merlion Suites, Straits Suites, Presidential Suites and the most exclusive of them all; the Chairman Suite (check out the room description here)!
The great thing about the Marina Bay Sands hotel is that there are no lesser rooms, as all rooms have either great sea view or an amazing view on the skyline of Singapore. Next to that, every room has a wireless (or wired) internet connection and numerous other amenities.
How to get there?
The easiest way of getting to Marina Bay Sands is by taxi from almost every place in Singapore. As taxis in Singapore drive with the meter on, it will always be a fair price to get to the casino. Other options are busses and the MRT. In April 2010, the new Promenade (Millenia) station of the Circle Line was opened; which is in walking distance of the casino. Hotel guests of Marina Bay Sands are entitled to use a complimentary shuttle bus from Changi Airport upon arrival. Non-guests can use the same shuttle bus for S$24 (for that amount I would prefer a taxi over the shuttle bus).
Entrance fees?
Singaporeans and permanent residents need to pay a levy of S$100 to enter the casino. The government hopes that with this steep entrance fee (it is just an entrance fee, you are not getting chips worth S$100 in return) the amount of gambling addicts will be kept to a minimum. Tourists, businesspersons and other foreign visitors can enter freely without any charge. After paying, the levy visitors are entitled to enter the casino for 24 hours.
About this website
This website was launched in May 2010; some weeks after the soft launch of the latest and biggest Integrated Resort (though non-Singaporeans usually call it a Casino) in Singapore. MBS is currently still in development, later on the opening of the fabulous Sands SkyPark and the museum are scheduled. Marina Bay scenery has changed forever now that the southwest area contains the massive MBS complex. This website brings you news and updates on everything related to the casino, events at the casino and general information about Singapore.
